Andreios Kardia fended off late pressure to capture Monday’s $12,000 Open I for pacers at Tioga Downs, and in doing so he extended his winning streak to two-in-a-row for Team Byron.
Aaron Byron got away fourth with Andreios Kardia, who watched Marty Monkhouser A and Jacksrluckytoo battle to the quarter pole in :27.1. Marty Monkhouser A established the lead and then sped through middle panels of :55 and 1:22.3 before giving way to Andreios Kardia, who commenced a first-over bid going to the half. Andreios Kardia used a :28 closing quarter to win by a neck over Fireyourguns in 1:50.3. Time Out Im Tired was third in the six-horse affair.
Sent off as the 3-2 favourite, the Jeff Byron pupil improved this year’s record to 4-2-4 from 15 starts while pushing his seasonal bankroll to $36,900. The 23-time winner has stashed away more than $270,000 to date for owner/breeder Ina Madill of Thornhill, Ont.